Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in Minnesota
The most you can sue for in Minnesota small claims — with the filing-fee range and whether a lawyer is allowed, cited to the statute.
The limit, the fee & who can appear in Minnesota
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $20,000 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | ~$65–$80 the base conciliation-court filing fee is $65, and some counties add a small law-library fee on top |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Allowed |
| Statute / court rule | Minn. Stat. §491A.01, subd. 3a |
A lower $4,000 cap applies when the claim involves a consumer credit transaction (a purchase or purchase loan of personal property for personal, family, or household use). Everything else uses the $20,000 ceiling.
The general limit rose from $15,000 to $20,000 effective August 1, 2024. Older guides that still say $15,000 are out of date; the $20,000 figure is current.
Where to file in Minnesota
A reference page, not a filing walkthrough — here's the official resource for procedure.
This page is a reference for the dollar limit, fee, and whether a lawyer is allowed — not a step-by-step filing guide. For the forms, where to file, and how service works, use Minnesota's official court self-help resource.
→ Minnesota Judicial Branch (conciliation court)What Minnesota filers get wrong
Minnesota calls its small claims court "conciliation court," and the ceiling is $20,000 for most claims under Minn. Stat. §491A.01. We confirmed both the general cap and the exception verbatim on the official Revisor of Statutes site: the statute reads that conciliation court hears claims where the amount does not exceed "$20,000" or "$4,000, if the claim involves a consumer credit transaction." That second number matters. If your dispute is over a purchase or a loan used to buy personal property for household use, the cap drops to $4,000, not $20,000. The general limit went up from $15,000 on August 1, 2024, so any source still printing $15,000 is stale. Lawyers are allowed but not required, and the filing fee starts at $65, with a few counties adding a small law-library surcharge.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Minnesota?
Minnesota conciliation court hears claims up to $20,000 under Minn. Stat. §491A.01. A lower $4,000 cap applies to consumer credit transactions. The $20,000 figure took effect August 1, 2024, up from $15,000.
What is the $4,000 consumer credit limit in Minnesota conciliation court?
If your claim involves a consumer credit transaction, meaning a purchase or a loan used to buy personal property for personal, family, or household use, the cap is $4,000 instead of $20,000. This is written directly into the statute.
How much does it cost to file in conciliation court in Minnesota?
The base filing fee is $65. Some counties add a small law-library fee, so the total is usually between $65 and $80. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it by filing a fee-waiver affidavit.
Can I have a lawyer in Minnesota conciliation court?
Yes. Lawyers are allowed on either side, though most people handle conciliation court themselves because it is designed to be informal. A case can be removed to district court after judgment, where having a lawyer becomes more common.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.